Equipment for Processing Containers Filled with Liquid or Powder Products

ABSTRACT

Equipment ( 1 ) for processing containers filled with liquid or powder products comprises a carousel ( 5 ) conveying containers ( 2 ) for processing, a drive system ( 6 ) by which the carousel is set in rotation about a vertical axis (X); a containing element ( 14 ) placed around the carousel ( 5 ), and a covering element ( 18 ) associated with the top of the carousel ( 5 ), combining with the containing element ( 14 ) to create a fluid-tight chamber ( 19 ) internally of which the carousel ( 5 ) is housed in its entirety. The covering element ( 18 ) is in vertical direction slidably engaged with the side wall for height adjustment of an upper frame ( 11 ) according to the size of the container ( 2 ).

This application is the national phase of international applicationPCT/IB2007/001265 filed May 16, 2007 which designated the U.S. and thatinternational application was published under PCT Article 21(2) inEnglish. This application claims priority to Italian Patent applicationnumber B02006A 000376, filed May 17, 2006, which is incorporated byreference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to equipment for processing containersfilled with liquid or powder products.

The invention finds application advantageously in the art field ofcarousel type equipment used for sterilizing, filling and closingcontainers with a capped neck in which a variety of different substancescan be packaged, for example liquid food products such as milk or fruitjuices, and non-food products such as mineral lubricating oils,detergents, etc.

BACKGROUND ART

The prior art embraces items of equipment comprising a carousel embodiedas a rotating platform designed to support containers for processing andmounted on a fixed, floor-standing base frame; the frame generally willhouse respective drive components by which the platform is set inrotation about a vertical axis.

Also forming part of the carousel is a frame, positioned above theplatform and joined to the selfsame platform by way of a respectivedrive shaft.

The frame and the platform are caused by the shaft to rotate as oneabout the vertical axis.

The frame carries a plurality of capping and/or filling assembliesarranged around its peripheral edge and operating on respectivecontainers positioned beneath.

Thus, when the platform and frame are set in rotation, the containersare engaged by the aforementioned assemblies and closed with a cap, inthe case of a capping carousel, or filled with a product in the case ofa filling carousel.

The carousel also comprises a device serving to induce vertical motion,by which the frame can be positioned closer to or farther from theplatform; thus, the height of the frame relative to the platform isadjustable according to the size of container being processed.

Conventional units of the type outlined above are washed downperiodically so as to remove any splashes or spills of the liquid orpowder products with which the containers for processing are filled.During the course of feeding and/or filling operations, in effect, partof the liquid or powder product can escape from the respectivecontainers and foul the surfaces of the carousel.

At the end of a given production run, accordingly, nozzles are activatedto direct a washing liquid onto the carousel, especially onto thoseareas where the splashes or spills are most heavily concentrated.

To avoid wetting the area around the equipment, the carousel is housedgenerally within a protective structure consisting in a side wall, orguard, and a collection tank attached to the underside of the platform.

In this way, the washing liquid is kept in by the side wall, which risesto the full height of the carousel, then collected in the tank andchannelled away to a waste pipe.

Nonetheless, the top edge of the side wall is effectively detached fromthe frame and positioned at a height only a short distance above thecarousel, with the result that an opening, hence a passage, is createdaround the frame.

Consequently, splashes of washing liquid can still fly beyond the wallor guard by way of the aforementioned opening, wetting the area outsidethe guard and the top surface of the frame.

In this situation, it will be appreciated that there are componentshoused on top of the frame, controlling the operation of the cappingand/or filling assemblies, which should not be exposed to liquidproducts of any kind as contact with liquids could result in damage.

The object of the present invention is to provide equipment forprocessing containers filled with liquid or powder products, such aswill be unaffected by the drawbacks mentioned above.

In particular, the object of the invention is to provide equipment forprocessing containers filled with liquid or powder products, embodied insuch a way as to prevent the escape of washing liquids directed at thecarousel.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

The stated object is realized in equipment according to the presentinvention for processing containers filled with liquid or powderproducts, comprising: a carousel designed to accommodate respectivecontainers for processing; motion-inducing means by which the carouselis set in rotation about a respective vertical axis; and a containingelement placed around the carousel, characterized in that it furthercomprises a covering element associated with the top of the carousel,combining with the containing element to create a chamber internally ofwhich the carousel is housed.

The invention will now be described in detail, by way of example, withthe aid of the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates equipment according to the present invention forprocessing containers filled with liquid or powder products, viewed in aside elevation and partly in section;

FIG. 2 is a detail of the equipment illustrated in FIG. 1, viewed in aside elevation and partly in section, and illustrated in a firstpossible embodiment;

FIG. 3 is a detail of the equipment, viewed in a side elevation andpartly in section, illustrated in a second possible embodiment;

FIG. 4 is a detail of the equipment, viewed in a side elevation andpartly in section, illustrated in a third possible embodiment.

With reference to FIG. 1, numeral 1 denotes equipment, in its entirety,for processing containers 2 filled with liquid or powder products, eachpresenting a neck 3 and a filler mouth 4 closable by fitting a cap.

In general, such equipment 1 comprises at least one carousel 5 forprocessing containers 2, operated for example as a sterilizing, fillingor capping unit, designed to accommodate and process respectivecontainers 2 while rotating about a vertical axis “X”.

By way purely of example, the accompanying drawings provide a detailedillustration of a carousel used for filling containers 2 with liquid orpowder products, introduced through the mouth 4 of each one.Nonetheless, the feature to which the invention relates is applicable toany given carousel forming part of the equipment 1.

The carousel 5 is equipped with motion-inducing means 6, by which it isset in rotation about the aforementioned axis “X”.

In greater detail, the carousel 5 comprises a platform 7 presenting aplurality of peripheral stations 8 serving to accommodate singlerespective containers 2. The platform 7 appears as a disc mounted on afloor-standing base 9 that supports the entire carousel 5.

The floor-standing base 9, which is of substantially box-likeappearance, houses a motor forming part of the aforementionedmotion-inducing means 6 and presenting a shaft 10 aligned longitudinallyon the vertical axis “X” of rotation

The shaft 10 is associated with the platform 7, and with an upper frame11 positioned at the topmost end of the selfsame shaft 10, above theplatform 7. Both the platform 7 and the frame 11 are thus set inrotation as one about the vertical axis “X”.

The carousel is equipped with a plurality of filling and/or cappingdevices 12 mounted to the periphery of the frame 11. More exactly, thedevices 12 illustrated in the example of the drawings are fillingdevices 12 only, given that the carousel 5 is a filling carousel, asalready intimated. The devices 12 in question are not described andillustrated in detail, being familiar in embodiment.

Each device 12 is positioned in alignment with a respective peripheralstation 8, so that the container 2 placed thereon can be filled with aliquid or powder product during the synchronous rotation of the platform7 and the frame 11.

The product is delivered to the carousel by suitable connecting pipes 12a positioned on the frame 11 and supplying each of the devices 12attached to the frame 11.

It will be seen also that the carousel 5 shown in FIG. 1 presents aplurality of supporting and weighing devices 13, each positioned tocoincide with a relative station 8. The devices 13 in question, likewiseconventional and therefore not described in detail, are designedadvantageously to weigh the containers 2 during the filling operation.

The carousel 5 also comprises means 5 a of inducing vertical motion,associated with the platform 7 and the frame 11 and serving to move theframe 11 along the vertical axis “X” toward or away from the platform 7.

Such means 5 a are embodied to advantage as a set of cylindersinterposed between the frame 11 and the platform 7, through the agencyof which the height of the frame 11 can be adjusted according to thesize of container 2 being handled.

The equipment 1 further comprises a containing element 14 internally ofwhich the carousel 5 is housed.

More precisely, the containing element 14 comprises a bottom wall 15extending around the carousel 5 and presenting a peripheral rim 15 athat compasses the transverse dimension of the carousel 5.

In particular, the bottom wall 15 is associated with the floor-standingbase 9 aforementioned, and presents a substantially concave geometrysuch as will favour the collection of a washing liquid directed onto theplatform 7 and the frame 11.

The containing element 14 also presents a side wall 16 issuing from theperipheral rim 15 a of the bottom wall 15.

The side wall 16 extends around the carousel 5, terminating uppermost ina top edge 16 a remote from the peripheral rim 15 a, and presents aplanar vertical inner surface 17 directed toward the carousel 5.

The equipment 1 further comprises a covering element 18 associated withthe top of the carousel 5 and combining with the containing element 14to create a chamber 19 internally of which the carousel 5 is enclosed.

The covering 18 element presents a first extremity 18 a associated withthe frame 11 and a second extremity 18 b, remote from the firstextremity 18 a, slidably engaging the inner surface 17 of the side wall16 in such a way that the platform 7 and the lower part of the frame 11remain enclosed internally of the chamber 19.

More exactly, and referring to the first embodiment illustrated in FIGS.1 and 2, the covering element 18 comprises a panel 20 of substantiallyannular geometry that presents a flat bottom face 21 positionedinternally of the chamber 19 and directed toward the bottom wall 15. Thebottom face 21 presents a peripheral portion 22 coinciding with theaforementioned first extremity 18 a of the element 18, at which thepanel 20 presents an internal circular edge.

The peripheral portion 22 rests on top of a rim 11 a presented by theframe 11, to which the aforementioned filling devices 12 are attached.To advantage, the equipment comprises first sealing means 23 interposedbetween the rim 11 a and the peripheral portion 22 of the bottom face21, serving to prevent any passage of washing liquid between the frame11 and the panel 20.

Such first sealing means 23 include a flexible element 23 a, consistingadvantageously of a flexible ring, associated permanently with theperipheral portion 22.

Thus, as the carousel 5 rotates about its axis “X”, the rim 11 a of theframe 11 slides against the flexible element 23 a and maintains ahermetic sealing action.

The panel 20 is also associated with slide means 24 designed to allowits movement along the vertical axis “X”, relative to the side wall 16,toward and away from the bottom wall 15.

In particular, the slide means 24 are located at the second extremity 18b of the covering element 18 and comprise a plurality of guide rods 25spaced apart one from the next, projecting from the top edge 16 a of theside wall 16.

The single rods 25 are substantially cylindrical, of circular crosssection, each extending vertically along a respective longitudinal axisparallel to the axis “X” of the carousel.

The rods 25 also occupy respective through holes 26 afforded by thepanel 20, which is able thus to traverse the length of the rods 25.

With this arrangement, accordingly, the panel 20 will be seen to lie ashort distance above the side wall 16.

The covering element 18 further comprises a lateral baffle 27 projectingfrom the bottom face 21 of the panel 20 and occupying the chamber 19.The baffle 27 is located between the holes 26 and the peripheral portion22 and presents a substantially cylindrical appearance, having a topedge 28 anchored to the bottom face 21 of the panel 20 and a bottom edge29 furnished with second sealing means 30 offered to the inner surface17 of the side wall 16. The baffle 27 presents an outer surface 27 adirected toward the inner surface 17 of the side wall 16 and theassociated rods 25, and an inner surface 27 b directed toward thecarousel 5.

The second sealing means 30 comprise an annular support 31 attached tothe bottom edge 29 of the baffle 27 and presenting a substantiallysquare cross sectional profile that includes a vertical surface 31 adirected toward the inner surface 17 of the side wall 16.

The aforementioned vertical surface 31 a affords a groove 32, likewiseannular, in which a flexible sealing element 33 is seated. The flexibleelement 33 takes the form of a ring seal, offered in fluid-tight contactto the inner surface 17 of the side wall 16. Thus, when motion isinduced in the frame 11 toward or away from the platform 7, the panel 20associated with the frame 11 is raised or lowered, and the same movementis induced in the lateral baffle 27. Accordingly, the flexible element33 is caused to slide against the inner surface 17, assuring a hermeticsealing action in combination with the side wall 16.

In the second embodiment of FIG. 3, the panel 20 remains at a heightpermanently below the top edge 16 a of the side wall 16.

With this solution, moreover, the slide means 24 comprise an annularprojection 34 associated rigidly with the side wall 16 and extendingtransversely to the inner surface 17 of this same wall 16. The annularprojection 34 appears substantially rectangular in cross sectionalprofile and presents a top surface 34 a directed toward the bottom face21 of the panel 20.

The slide means 24 further comprise a plurality of guide rods 25 asdescribed above, spaced apart one from the next and projecting from thetop surface 34 a of the annular projection 34.

As in the solution described previously, the rods 25 are disposedparallel to the main vertical axis “X” and occupy respective throughholes 26 afforded by the panel 20.

The top surface 34 of the annular projection 34 presents an annular slot35 directed toward the bottom face 21 of the panel 20.

Likewise in this instance, the lateral baffle 27 projects from thebottom face 21 of the panel 20 and occupies the chamber 19.

In particular, the top edge 28 of the baffle 27 is anchored to thebottom face 21 of the panel 20, whilst the bottom edge 29 is seatedslidably in the aforementioned annular slot 35.

To advantage, the baffle 27 is furnished with second sealing means 30located between the selfsame baffle 27 and the annular projection 34.

In greater detail, the second sealing means 30 comprise a primaryflexible element 36 associated with the top surface 34 a of the annularprojection 34 and offered to the inner surface 27 b of the baffle 27. Inpractice, the primary flexible element 36 consists in a ring seal ofwhich an inner edge is anchored to the top surface 34 a, adjacent to theslot 35, and an outer edge engages in fluid-tight contact with the innersurface 27 b of the baffle 27. Thus, when motion is induced in the panel20, the inner surface 27 b of the baffle 27 will slide against theprimary flexible component 36, maintaining a hermetic seal to disallowany infiltration of liquid.

The second sealing means 30 further comprise a secondary flexibleelement 37 secured to the bottom edge 29 of the lateral baffle 27 andoffered to an inside wall 35 a of the annular slot 35.

The secondary flexible element 37 likewise consists in a ring of whichan inner edge is anchored to the bottom edge 29 of the baffle, and anouter edge is breasted in fluid-tight contact with the inside wall 35 aof the slot 35.

Consequently, the secondary flexible element 37 engages in slidingcontact internally of the slot 35, maintaining a hermetic seal insimilar fashion to the first example illustrated, and disallowing anyinfiltration of liquid by way of the rods 25.

In the third embodiment of FIG. 4, the covering element 18 appears as atubular housing 38 of annular shape, encompassing a relative internalvoid 39.

The void 39 serves to house components of the frame 11 such as theaforementioned connecting pipes 12 a, or electrical cables needed forthe operation of the filler device 12.

More exactly, the tubular housing 38 incorporates the panel 20 alreadydescribed, and a top 40, positioned above the panel 20, similarlypresenting a flat and annular appearance. The top 40 and the panel 20are connected one with another at the respective lateral extremities byway of two cylindrical flanks 41 a and 41 b issuing perpendicularly fromthe panel 20 and combining with the panel 20 and with the top 40 todelimit the void 39.

It will be seen that one flank 41 a is positioned directly above theframe 11, whilst the other flank 41 b is breasted with the inner surface17 of the side wall 16. Accordingly, when the frame 11 is cause totraverse along the main axis “X”, the tubular housing 38 will accompanythe movement vertically, with the outer flank 41 b riding against theinner surface 17.

To advantage, in this embodiment, the flexible element 23 a of the firstsealing means 23 presents an angled portion 42 engaging the bottom face21 of the panel 20 and the rim 11 a of the frame 11. The angled portion42 extends transversely from the bottom face 21 toward the carousel 5 toensure a better fluid-tight seal during the rotation of the frame 11.

Again in this third embodiment, the second sealing means 30 consist in aflexible element 43 anchored to the bottom face 21 of the panel 20 andengaging the inner surface 17 of the side wall 16.

The flexible element 43 extends transversely from the bottom face 21toward the surface 17 of the side wall 16, in such a way as will enableit to slide against the selfsame surface 17 when the frame 11 istraversed along the vertical axis “X”.

Likewise in this instance, the second sealing means 30 ensure afluid-tight fit between the covering element 18 and the side wall 16.

To advantage, when cleaning operations are carried out on the carousel5, the covering element 18 prevents any splash or spillage of washingliquid over the side wall 16.

In effect, the panel 20 projecting sideways from the frame 11 combineswith the side wall 16 and the bottom wall 15 to create theaforementioned chamber 19, internally of which the carousel is housedhermetically.

Consequently, the washing liquid will always remains within the chamber19, and there is no risk of splashing or wetting the top part of theframe 11, which remains outside the chamber 19 (FIG. 1).

A further advantage of the invention is that the frame 11 can be movedtoward and away from the platform 7 while maintaining a fluid-tight sealat the covering element 18 at all times.

In effect, by deploying the second sealing means 30 as described above,the covering element 18 can be traversed along the vertical axis “X” ofthe equipment while maintaining a fluid tight fit between the selfsameelement 18 and the side wall 16.

1. Equipment for processing containers filled with liquid or powderproducts, comprising: a carousel (5) designed to accommodate respectivecontainers (2) for processing; motion-inducing means (6) by which thecarousel is set in rotation about a respective vertical axis (X); and, acontaining element (14) placed around the carousel (5), characterized inthat it further comprises a covering element (18) associated with thetop of the carousel (5), combining with the containing element (14) tocreate a chamber (19) internally of which the carousel (5) is housed. 2.Equipment as in claim 1, wherein the containing element (14) comprises aside wall (16) presenting a substantially vertical planar inner surface(17) directed toward the carousel (5), and the covering element (18) isslidably engaged with the side wall (16).
 3. Equipment as in claim 2,wherein the containing element (14) further comprises a bottom wall (15)extending around the carousel (5) and presenting a peripheral rim (15 a)compassing the transverse dimension of the carousel (5), the side wall(16) issuing from the peripheral rim (15 a) and presenting a top edge(16 a) remote from the selfsame peripheral rim (15 a).
 4. Equipment asin claim 3, wherein the carousel (5) further comprises a platform (7)presenting a plurality of peripheral stations (8) serving to accommodaterespective containers (2) for processing, and an upper frame (11)positioned above and associated with the platform (7), presenting aplurality of filling and/or capping devices (12) each positioned inalignment with a respective peripheral station (8) of the platform (7)and serving to fill the respective container (2) for processing with aproduct and/or to close the selfsame container (2) with a cap, thecovering element (18) presenting a first extremity (18 a) associatedwith the upper frame (11) and a second extremity (18 b) opposite to thefirst extremity (18 a), associated with the side wall (16).
 5. Equipmentas in claim 4, wherein the carousel (5) further comprises means (5 a) ofinducing vertical motion, associated with the platform (7) and with theframe (11), by which the frame (11) is traversed along the vertical axis(X) toward or away from the platform (7).
 6. Equipment as in claim 5,wherein the covering element (18) comprises a panel (20) ofsubstantially annular geometry, presenting a flat bottom face (21)positioned internally of the chamber (19), and a peripheral portion (22)coinciding with the first extremity (18 a) of the selfsame element (18)and resting on a rim (11 a) of the frame (11).
 7. Equipment as in claim6, further comprising first sealing means (23) interposed between theperipheral portion (22) of the bottom face (21) and the rim (11 a) ofthe frame (11).
 8. Equipment as in claim 7, wherein first sealing means(23) comprise a flexible element (23 a) anchored permanently to theperipheral portion (22) of the bottom face (21), against which the rim(11 a) of the frame (11) slides during the rotation of the carousel (5)about the vertical axis (X).
 9. Equipment as in claim 8, comprisingslide means (24) associated with the side wall (16) and with the panel(20), at the second extremity (18 b) of the covering element (18),enabling movement of the panel (20) relative to the side wall (16) alongthe vertical axis (X), toward and away from the bottom wall (15). 10.Equipment as in claim 9, wherein slide means (24) comprise a pluralityof guide rods (25) spaced apart one from the next and projecting fromthe top edge (16 a) of the side wall (16), each extending longitudinallyparallel to the vertical axis (X) and occupying a respective throughhole (26) afforded by the panel (20).
 11. Equipment as in claim 10,wherein the covering element (18) further comprises a lateral baffle(27) positioned internally of the chamber (19), projecting from thebottom face (21) of the panel (20) between the holes (26) and theperipheral portion (22), of which a cylindrical outer surface (27 a) isdirected toward the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16) and towardthe guide rods (25), and a cylindrical inner surface (27 b) is directedtoward the carousel (5).
 12. Equipment as in claim 11, wherein thelateral baffle (27) presents a top edge (28) anchored to the bottom face(21) of the panel (20), and a bottom edge (29), remote from the top edge(28), furnished with second sealing means (30) offered to the innersurface (17) of the side wall (16).
 13. Equipment as in claim 12,wherein second sealing means (30) comprise an annular support (31)attached to the bottom edge (29) of the baffle (27), also a flexiblesealing element (33) seated in a groove (32) afforded by the annularsupport (31), offered to the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16)and slidable against this same surface in a direction parallel to thevertical axis (X).
 14. Equipment as in claim 9, wherein slide means (24)comprise an annular projection (34) associated rigidly with the sidewall (16) and extending from the inner surface (17) of the selfsame wall(16), also a plurality of guide rods (25) spaced apart one from the nextand projecting from a top surface (34 a) of the annular projection (34)directed toward the bottom face (21) of the panel (20), each extendinglongitudinally parallel to the vertical axis (X) and occupying arespective through hole (26) afforded by the panel (20).
 15. Equipmentas in claim 14, wherein the covering element (18) further comprises alateral baffle (27) positioned internally of the chamber (19),projecting from the bottom face (21) of the panel (20) between the holes(26) and the peripheral portion (22), of which a cylindrical outersurface (27 a) is directed toward the inner surface (17) of the sidewall (16) and toward the guide rods (25), and a cylindrical innersurface (27 b) is directed toward the carousel (5).
 16. Equipment as inclaim 15, wherein the lateral baffle (27) presents a top edge (28)anchored to the bottom face (21) of the panel (20), and a bottom edge(29), remote from the top edge (28), slidable internally of an annularslot (35) afforded by the top surface (34 a) of the annular projection(34) when the panel (20) is traversed along the vertical axis (X). 17.Equipment as in claim 16, wherein the lateral baffle (27) is furnishedwith second sealing means (30) located between the selfsame baffle (27)and the annular projection (34).
 18. Equipment as in claim 17, whereinsecond sealing means (30) comprise a primary flexible element (36)associated with the top surface (34 a) of the annular projection (34)and offered to the cylindrical inner surface (27 b) of the baffle (27),also a secondary flexible element (37) secured to the bottom edge (29)of the lateral baffle (27) and offered to an inside wall (35 a) of theannular slot (35).
 19. Equipment as in claim 8, wherein the coveringelement (18) presents a tubular housing (38) of substantially annularshape encompassing an internal void (39) delimited by the panel (20) incombination with two cylindrical flanks (41 a, 41 b) issuing fromrelative opposite lateral extremities of the panel (20), and a top (40)positioned above the panel (20) and associated with the flanks (41 a, 41b).
 20. Equipment as in claim 19, wherein one of the two flanks (41 a,41 b) is breasted with the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16) andslidable thus against the selfsame inner surface (17) when the coveringelement (18) is traversed along the vertical axis (X), relative to theside wall (16), toward or away from the bottom wall (15).
 21. Equipmentas in claim 20, further comprising second sealing means (30) interposedbetween the panel (20) and the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16).22. Equipment as in claim 21, wherein second sealing means (30) comprisea flexible element (43) anchored to the bottom face (21) of the panel(20) at the second extremity (18 b) of the covering element (18) andoffered to the inner surface (17) of the side wall (16), in such a wayas to slide against the selfsame inner surface (17) when the coveringelement (18) is traversed along the vertical axis (X).